Dominique Williams joined the 4,000-yard rushing club in much the same manner as everything else he’s accomplished during his distinguished football career at Wagner College.

The 5-foot-9, 205-pound Bridgeton, N.J., native slipped into the record books quietly and in a typically dignified manner, which pretty much sums up the style of one of the best running backs in school history.

Williams has never been one to sing his own praises, which probably is a quality that helped him be named the program’s first three-time team captain heading into the 2013 season. He’s constantly talking about team goals rather than personal goals and would be the last player to give up on the 2-5 Seahawks.

“I’m not focused on stats. I’m focused on helping build this program up and finishing strong to give younger guys a blueprint of how hard you have to work to get to where you want to be,” he said. “I know a lot of them look up to me and I really want them to start stepping into those leadership roles now.”

Williams will lead the Seahawks into battle this Saturday at noon against Robert Morris, the first of three consecutive Northeast Conference home games that will represent the final hurrah for this senior class at Grymes Hill.

Robert Morris head coach Joe Walton will be honored in a brief pre-game ceremony as the 77-year-old former New York Jets mentor closes out a 20-year run at the NEC school. It’s also Family Weekend as Wagner tries to improve on a 1-2 conference record that has the team on life support in defense of its NEC title.

The spotlight can’t avoid Williams, however, as he begins the final month of his collegiate career.

He became the fourth Seahawk to surpass 4,000 yards rushing (4,044) when he gained 92 yards on 21 carries in a 34-7 loss at Duquesne two weeks ago. He trails Rick Sarille (5,290), Terry Underwood (5,010) and Alonzo Patterson (4,177), whom he could pass into third place with a big game Saturday.

Williams also ranks third behind only Sarille and Underwood on Wagner’s all-time scoring list with 264 points, and stands seventh on the NEC’s all-time rushing list while surpassing the 5,000-yard milestone in total offense, ranking fourth on the NEC career chart.

It’s no wonder that opposing defensive coordinators have approached Wagner’s sputtering passing attack with one goal in mind — slowing Williams as best as possible.

“If I was playing us, I’d put everybody including the popcorn vendor in the box and say, ‘Throw it,’ and that’s what teams are doing,” said Wagner offensive coordinator Tom Masella. “If you’re having trouble throwing it, people will crowd the box and take the running game away.”

Williams still has rushed for 730 yards on 162 carries for 104.3 yards per game. His 4.5 yards average per carry is only slightly below his career average of 5 yards per pop.

The fifth-year senior has seen it all since arriving from Milford Academy. He broke on the scene as an impact freshman before missing a year following ACL knee surgery. His return was welcomed with a losing season, although the Seahawks used a closing four-game winning streak in 2011 as a springboard to last year’s championship campaign.

“It’s been like a roller-coaster ride,” said Williams, “not just physically but emotionally.”

And now the end is near.

“It’s hard to believe. I try not to think about it, but at the same time those glimpses of the past motivate me,” he said. “I’ve never been a loud guy, but I’ve tried to be a player my teammates can approach. These last three games on this field are going to be very emotional for me and them.”

NOTES: Senior placekicker David Lopez, who ranks ninth on Wagner’s career scoring list with 220 points, said he’s pushing to return to action Saturday after missing two weeks with a sprained ankle ... Robert Morris quarterback Paul Jones is a former four-star recruit at Penn State who has played sparingly since 2009 ... Duquesne edged Robert Morris, 21-20, last weekend to emerge as the only unbeaten NEC team at 2-0. Sacred Heart, Bryant, Central Connecticut, Robert Morris and Saint Francis, Pa. all have one conference loss. 